Pencil



J. P. LYNN Aug. 4, 1931.

PENCIL Filed March 22, 1928 Patented Aug. 4, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN P. LYNN; on onIoAeo, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR r DUR-O-LITE PENCIL OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINoIs PENCIL Application filed March 22, 1928.

This invention relates toa pencil having mechanical means for propelling, repelling,

or expelling a lead through its tip portion.

The mechanism employed is of the screwoperated type actuated by rotation of one part relative to another. 7 w

The principal objects realized by this invention are simplicity in construction and operation, expulsion of the lead following the exhaustion of its serviceable portion; and protection to the operating parts against accident or tampering incident to usage. In

accomplishingthese purposes, I associate with a'pencil body part a separable operating part or unit forming, by preference, the

tip of the pencil. In response to relative rotation between the body part and this op erating part or unit, a carrier which clutches a. lead may bepropelled longitudinally in one direction or the other, stops, to extend or retract the lead through the tip of the pencil. Within the range required for this limited feed of the lead, the pencil operation is substantially frictionless, as the carrier and lead are propelled as a unit. If it is desired however to extend the lead through the pencil tip to a greater extent than is permitted by the limited movementof the carrier,continued relativerotas '3 eration, I

site ends, i; e., that crating unit which is illustrate a suggestive embodiment of the present invention in the manner following: Figure 1 1s a longitudinalsection taken centrally through the pencil, a portion centrally of its length being broken away to between fixed Wlth Serial No. 263,665

condense the View, and the lead carrier I COMPAI't-TY,

shown inits extreme upper position;

Fig. 2 1s a similar View of the lower pencil end with the lead carrier adv lowermost position;

Fig. 8 1s a similar View with the advanced through the a leadfrom the pencil 'Fig. 4 is a detail cil head, with a hibit the parts in carrier so 5 in elevation section anced to its propeller as to expel of the penportion broken away to ex- Fig. 5 is a detail in elevation of the lower end ofthe lead carrier, showing the corresponding tube;

line 6-6 of Fig. 1; and

F 1gp? s a view In elevation carrier per se.'

In the present part such vi ded with a slotted axial bore which may slide non-rotatabl means such as a screw -threaded its lowerend fora distance sufii in section,

end of the surrounding Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on of the lead pencil I combine, separably a body part A a relatively rotatable as the tip B. The body is Pr 8 through y a screw propeller 9 having a head 10 at one end thereot. This bore in the, body extends upwardly from cient to accommodate the propeller throughout its entire range of movement. the bore may be slightly In its lower region widened to accommodate a bushing 11 wherein is received the enlarged end or head 12 of a tube '13 which extends down within the tip to present its lower end against'a stop shoulder Hadjacent the lower end thereof. The walls of the tip are preferably except at the upper end tapered, as shown, 15 where they extend cylindrically to loosely surround the adjacent end of the body. be supported fixedly within means of a ring plate l6 which The tube 13 may the tip as by is frictionally titted between the cylindrical walls of Itis preferred that the tube slitted longitudinally sections 18 which are normally wardly to provide a desired tion against the bushing 11.

which this tube is secured may t head 12 be at 17 to provide spring bowed outdeg reezof fric- The tip in hen be conbeing I nected separably with the pencil body with constricted neck the propeller is which it remains assembled by the tension outwardly exerted by the sections 18' against the bushing in which the same is received. At the upper end of the tube, I provide a x I 19 having internal-threads 2O wit which the screw thr'eadsof the propeller 9 may cooperate. At its lower end reduced in diameteriin the form of a pin 21. 7 7

Mounted for limited reciprocation with in the tube 13 is a lead carrier in the form,

' para 9 with "which aligns the'lead agn "rier. The spring sections at the upper end 'the lead ca'ririris V nular'space 26 torm'edinteriorly of the tip of a sleeve 22, the upper and lower ends 23 and 24, respectively, of which -are of reduced diameter and slitted longitudinally at '25 to proyide spring sections Between the springsecti'ons at thelower end] on": the

sl'eeve'a lead C' isadapted to- .begiripped so to slide back and forth through thetip of the pencil in response to corresponding movelnentsiofthe' carrier. The walls of the tip are thickened at its lower extremity and bored to provide a cylindrical vguideway ally With-the carof the lead carrier are internally threaded to cooperate with the threads of the propreciab'le friction to provide a springthreaded connection. The reduced lower end of "receivable within an anbe lowthestop steamer- 14? I provide stops,

however, for limiting'the reciprocations of "the lea" carrier within the tube" 13, so that the opposite ends of the sleeve be pre-,

Ve ted from engagingandbindingwith the parts proxii'nate thereto. For this purpose 7 vwi ay b r'ovided with an inwardly projecting bead 27f'which is "disposed within an elongatedrec'ess 28""extendi'ng for a predetermined distance of the length of the sleeve. At opposite ends of this" recessed portionofthis. carrier are formed stop shoulders 29" with which the bead 27 may alternately engage when the lead carrier is rejciproca'ted;

'- In operation the 'pencilme'chanism performs as follows: Rotation of the pencil body relative to its tip will produce a 1011- gitudinal travehot the propeller which also is rotated relative to the operating unit,

iiiei, the tip, thereby causing the pin 21 to advance-'thelead G'through'the pencil. The

v 'nect-ion with 'abl'effriction; j

rier from either; of its two" ends;

isin frictional threaded'con- I thepropeller-"tends to rotate therewith so, as to advance orretract within the limits'determined by the spaced stops 29. ,Beyond these limits, however, thecarcarrier whi h rier cannot movei'so that iurther'rotation of the propeller continues with the carrier remaining stationary and oflering an -appreci- The. lead may be introduced into thetcar- If inwhich 'they engage with appeller therefrom-.'- I propeller is insertedand vscrewed into operative position,

this ferrule in serted through the tip of the pencil, the

lead will be gripped by the spring sections at the forward endthereof and may be pushed back therein approximately to the distance which is represented in Fig. 1.

' From the uppermost position shownin this figure, the carrier advancesrotatively with the propeller between the two stops 29. Hereinafter thismotion is referred to as I When it becomes necessary to friction-less. V advance the lead further; howeven thepro- 11391181 is moved forward again, but rotatively relative to the carrier which is'stopped by I the upper shoulder the lead into the tube a sufficientdistancefor protection may "be brought about" by a 29 'The retraction of frictionless reverse operation. In such" a limited retractrve movement, the" carrier haves rotatively with the propeller", thus 'oi'fer'i ng' no friction thereto;

the lead will bet'mo've'd forward through the; carrier against the triotion' of its springsections at the forward end thereof. 2 i

Thepresent pencil may also be characterized bycertain other features which are illustrated inFigsQ 1" and"4..' I have shown the upperpencil. end chamhere'dt'as at 30 to provide a magazine for, extra leadsr The closure for this magazine; may consist of a multiple jawed retainer carrying an eraser 32', the retainer being u ported with in a ferrule 33' which extendsidown over the sides of the pencil adjacent itsiupper end.

Preferably the outer siirta'ceof the pencil body is recessed sufficiently to-accoinmod'ate flush relation with the remainder of the body-.- The ferrule is devt=aohably fitted to the pencil end so to permit. access tozthe "leads chamber thenewithin.

The connection which I prefer for holding theferr-ulc in place is inthe formiot an c. ,inde nted I p on; the nside yof A the ferrule a; butornament 34 which presents ton adapted, to engage with athread 3 h'h isffifie Sp rey ar u t e 1 face. of thebody. 'Ihe ferrule may be .ro- 't'atively advanced to 'a; position of rest against an annular shoulder 36 uponf the ma 'It 'may arse-t8 nser'ewa rar'wahdraw r from the 'bed ganaia this operatherewith. Preferably a cap 37 is applied over the eraser and frictionally engaged with the upper end of the ferrule 33. The provision of an ornamental indentation 34,

r as suggested in Fig. 4, may serve the double capacity of a button for cooperating with the threads 35 to establish connection between the ferrule and body, and of a dis tinguishing symbol or mark by which the pencil is identified as the product of a particular manufacturer. A button would ordinarily be objectionable because of its marring'the external appearance of the pencil head, but by-producing the button with an ornamental configuration which does not impair its utility, it is possible to combine into this element two attributes having useful functions.

The construction of scribed is particularly thebody is a moulded bakelite or celluloid product. Such a material, although well adapted for a pencil body, tends to shrink from its original size, or else it cannot be formed uniformly to an exact size. In such circumstances, the pencil head will fail to stay in place satisfactorily if a frictional connection be depended upon. This difii- 'culty is overcome inthe present pencil where the head may, if necessary, be loosely fitted in place, since the button in engagement with the thread provides a connection which is positive and unfailing. This is of parpencil head just deadvantageous where .ticular advantage when, as in the present pencil, the cap is frictionally secured to the ferrule because it is then necessary to apply a pulling force to remove the cap preparatory to using the eraser. hen, as in previous practice, the ferrule is attached to the body by a frictional connection, the chances are-about equal of pulling off the entire head, i. e., the ferrule, cap, and eraser, when only the cap is desired. But by having for the cap a frictional connection and for the ferrule a positive connection, each requiring a different motion'for its disestablishment, it is possible to remove the entire head or just the cap, according as is desired.

I claim:

'1. In combination, a pencil having two relatively rotatable parts, screw means cooperating with both of said parts and adapted to be advanced axially of the pencil in response to relative rotation of said parts to adjust a lead, a lead carrier movable axially through one of said parts, and a spring threaded connection between the carrier and said'screw means, substantially as described.

2. A pencil having in combination two relatively rotatable partsand a screw means adaptedto be moved axially in response to operation thereof, a lead carrier associated with the screw means having a spring threaded connection therewith, and means tively longitudinal a tip portion,

rler whereby it may move with the screw means or remain stationary relative thereto,

substantially as described.

3. A pencil in which is combined two relatively rotatable parts, screw means associated with said parts and adapted for movement longitudinally of the pencil, and a lead carrier also movable longitudinally within the pencil and open at both ends through one of which the screw means is entered, the lead carrier being adapted to receive a lead when introduced thereinto through either end, substantially as described.

.4. A pencil in which is combined two relarotatable parts, a lead carrier open at both ends reciprocable within the pencil and adapted to receive a lead therein when introduced through either end thereof, and screw means removably connected with the carrier and in cooperation with the relativealso reciprocablewithin the pencil and cooperating with the relatively rotatable parts thereof so as to be actuated in response to operation thereof, means providing a frictional threaded connection between the screw means and the carrier, and means for limiting the carrierreciprocations through a distance less than the movement range of said screw means,-substantially as described.

6. A pencil comprising a body portion and a tip portion, a tubular member rigidly carried by said tip portion, a lead carrier within said tubular member, a propeller mounted to rotate with said body portion threaded intosaid tubular member and threaded into said lead carrieigand means for limiting the movement of said carrier within said tubular member. j

7. A pencil comprising a body portion and a tubular member rigidly carried by saidtip portion, a lead carrier within said tubular member, springmembers on said lead carrier, a propellermounted to rotate with said body portion, saidpropeller havingthreading connection with said tubular member and threaded into said spring members on said lead carrier, and means for limiting the longitudinal movement of said carrier within said tubular member.

8. A pencil having a body and an operating unit frictionally and telescopically connected thereto, a lead carrier having spring means at its upper end movable axially within the pencil, a propeller movable axially through the carrier and connected frictionally and separably thereto by said spring means to move the carrier therewith for a v 9. A pencilhai ing a b'ody 'nd aperiting unit frictionaily a'nd telesco'pi'c'qliybofinested thereto, it zlead c'airier mounted for limited axial movement Wit11in the p'h ci1 means $81 "endhaving; spring means at ep pe'site' effde, one end of gwhich'ls PI'QVICiEd With screw threads the Other end formed. to feceifiie a lead, and a propeller having a shrew threaded ffietional eoniiecti'oii with the I screw-threaded end of the cer'rie'r, the pro?- pe'lle'r' beirfg-adepted t0 Ihev'e a lead both With and relative to the czu'fier.

10; A pencil havinga body ahdari OPGfdU- ing tihit fribtio'na'lly and fteles'copitiiy cohend of which 5 lezidmziy be inserted, a: pie} pelle movable through the carr eiyln'iea s 'forn'nnfg a frictional conneetio'n between one end of thec'iiffier and zt l'ead, ahd mearis forming a screw-threadedsprl g connection between the othef-end'and the pro'pellei.

' 11. In 2113611011 having a body and a tip frictiona'fly and telescepiealiy "eo'nfiect'ed theretb, a tube carried by the tipfiind eX- tending- Within "the bbdy, a propeller having 'Shdifig" iron-fotatahi'e connection with the 1 body arid threaded-into said tube, a tubtflztr axial movement Within said tube and havmg a screw-threaded resilient connectlon I with Sgt-id propeller, and means for 'fri'ctiona-ll'y gripping a lead Within said ch'rrie'r; Where y'ra'lead niziybe advanced or retracted thri'lgh the tip by the carrier and adjusted relative; to'ithe carrier by arel'xtive rotation of the bddyind tip.

12; A encil having in cbihbihttieh" at body, ati-p theiefo'r eoii'liec'ted therewith foil rotation relative theTt0,- 1ead .grippifig means-loasely nioiifited "in Said tip to? lithited sliding moveihn'ty-r'fie'afisl eoepe'r'ating With both the bbdyh'n'd tjp' jnd re'zei'p'rociitabl'e therethrougheh 'rotitio'nof the tip rela tive to the body, said means h'zivir' g" a; screw- I threaded resilient connectio with said lead gripping meails toadvance 01? retifsfit the same and to adjust the lead relative to said grlppmg f pon continued retatio'n'of saidltip relative to; said body. 7 1

JOHNRLYNN; I 

